A primary school teacher, Rajkumar Ray, who was a presiding officer during the West Bengal panchayat polls in Raiganj went missing on May 14. Ray’s family claimed that he was abducted from the polling station. Later, his body was found near a rail track in Raiganj on May 15. The local administration claimed it was a case of suicide. But, his family and colleagues alleged that he was murdered.
On May 16, hundreds of government employees who were appointed as counting officer agitated across Raiganj demanding central forces and protection. They also heckled the local Sub-divisional officer (SDO).
Did the police investigate the case thoroughly?
Instead of investigating the case, police is blaming a IIT Kharagpur PhD student Russell Aziz without any clear evidence. They are making an attempt to link a Facebook status that he had posted on May 15 with the case. Aziz was interrogated by CID for four-five hours on Monday and he was asked to surrender his laptop and mobile.
On May 14 (the polling day), Aziz, who is the son of CPI (M) MP Mohammed Salim posted a Facebook status saying that a presiding officer was shot dead at a polling station in North Bengal. Aziz also put a disclaimer that the news was not verified. However, he later deleted the post.
Md Salim alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) is labeling vindictive and false charges against his son.
“We have decided that he must go face the CID. Let’s see how far they go. Many comrades in North Dinajpur are facing such vindictive actions by the state. Protests and resistance are also growing. After Raiganj incident they are trying to find scapegoat,” Salim said blaming the TMC government.
Salim alleged that the government wanted to “put everything under the carpet”. “Now throughout the state people are protesting the death of the presiding officer. Russel is my son but hundreds of sons and daughters are being orphaned in our state. He is only being summoned,” he added.
Salim hit out at the TMC government saying thousands of “our comrades” are being falsely implicated. “Even now wherever leftist are putting up fights they are being targeted. All doors of legal recourse is open depending on the nature of their scale of harassment.”
The Panchayat elections in West Bengal were marred with multiple instances of violent activities.